Enrollment in and eligibility for retirement, health, and welfare benefits depends on job type, percentage of time you work, and the length of your appointment. If your appointment is eligible for benefits, you’ll have a 31-day period of initial eligibility (PIE), which typically begins your first day at work or first day in a benefits-eligible position, to complete your benefit enrollments. You’ll submit your benefit enrollments through the UCPath website.
See UCnet benefits eligibility for more information.
UCPath
Employees will use the UCPath website to complete enrollment in UC benefits. If you are a newly eligible employee, you’ll navigate to the “Benefits & Retirement – Select My Benefits” section to access your self-service benefit enrollment event.
Beneficiary Designation
Make sure to designate beneficiaries for your retirement and insurance accounts — and keep them up to date — so your benefits will go to whom you intend.
Depending on your benefits, you’ll need to designate beneficiaries for:
- UC Retirement Plan (UCRP) benefits (including Pension Choice)
- Life insurance
- Accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D) insurance
- UC Retirement Savings Plan accounts (including Savings Choice, Pension Choice supplemental accounts and other DC, 403(b) and 457(b) Plans)
- Health Savings Account balances
Please note: If you are married, your spouse may have a legal interest in benefits payable at your death. A beneficiary designation may be subject to challenge if it will result in your spouse receiving less than your spouse’s share of that portion of the benefit that is considered community property.
Visit UCnet on how to Keep your beneficiary information up to date.
Period of Initial Eligibility (PIE)
A time during which you or your eligible family members may enroll in benefits plans. You have only 31 days from your first day at work (or first day in an appointment that makes you newly eligible for benefits) to enroll in your health and welfare benefits and 90 days to enroll in primary retirement benefits. New faculty members have a second 31-day period of eligibility that begins on their first day on campus. A new PIE may result from a change in family status, a change in employment status, immigration status change, faculty start date, leave without pay, and/or loss of other group coverage. Enroll online by signing in to UCPath.
Late Enrollment (HIPAA)
If an employee does not enroll within 31-days from the date when first eligible, enrollment for the employee and/or eligible family member(s) in a medical plan at a later date is allowed. A waiting period of 90-consecutive calendar days is required before medical coverage is effective. This late enrollment is available for medical only, not dental or vision, or any other UC-sponsored insurance plan.
Employees will need to submit a late enrollment request through the UCPath portal.
Open Enrollment
Enrollment in medical, dental and/or vision plans during the annual Open Enrollment period, usually held in the month of November, is allowed with coverage effective on the following January 1st. In addition, enrollment or renewal in the Health Flexible Spending Account (HFSA), Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (DepCare FSA), and TIP (Tax Savings on Insurance Premiums) plans during Open Enrollment are allowed. You may enroll in legal insurance through your online benefits account during your Period of Initial Eligibility (PIE) or UC’s annual Open Enrollment period.
De-Enrollment
If an employee's average regular paid time drops below 17.5 hours per week for 2 consecutive months, or if the appointment changes to a per diem or another ineligible appointment, an employee loses eligibility for medical (including Core), dental, vision, basic life insurance, as well as Short-term and Supplemental Disability coverage(s). Eligibility for Supplemental Life insurance, Accidental Death & Dismemberment, Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts, and Legal coverage(s) may still be allowed. Whenever a family member loses eligibility to participate in UC-sponsored plans, it is the employee’s responsibility to de-enroll that family member immediately. Otherwise the employee is liable for any excess UC costs and for any plan expenses incurred by the ineligible family member(s) as well as other corrective actions and penalties. Contact the UCPath Center for assistance or to inquire about continuing coverage through COBRA. UCPath website.
De-enrolling a family member who is no longer eligible to participate in an UC-sponsored benefit plans does not in itself create a new period of initial eligibility (PIE). However, if accompanied by an involuntary loss of other group insurance coverage or by a move out or return to a plan service area, you or your family member may be eligible for a new PIE for some benefit plans. See PIE section above.
Campus Human Resources, Benefits Services
Phone: (310) 794-0830